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This is where we, the pianoworld members and composers offer our compositions free of charge to the rest of the pianoworld members!

Compositions are copyrighted at all times to their respectful owners.

At any time one can delete their compositions in this thread. Though this is not nice, there might be reasons to do so. However, be aware that after some time has passed you can NOT edit your post, in which case you'll need to delete the file from the servers.

If you have troubles uploading, finding webspace, offering or htmling, just let me know. I'm only a PM away, or an email away. It's very easy to get a hold of me!

And if you want, offer your insights on your own works. Offer the score, or the recording. Offer both, or offer your ideas as well. Write as much as you'd like, or as little. Share with us your thoughts about your own works... and when you're done with that, share your thoughts and your feedback about the works of others. Offer and receive!

Finally... enjoy...

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Here you can find all of the works, recordings and scores posted throughout this thread!

I would like to offer me a chance to explain, prior to you starting and asking questions: This IS small, and this IS simple and this IS short and very uncomplicated. It's supposed to be like that. I can do complicated, I can do huge, I can do pages and pages, but this is a part of a very special project (and I can say no more about this project right now), so... there...

and your playing is quite nice as well! Is it a digital piano, or a sampled piano, or something that can produce a midi file? Are you comfortable in producing a score yourself? Would you like, perhaps, to find someone to make a score for you? It's a beautiful jazz-like piece and I think many would be interested in performing it, that's why I'm asking.

Thanks for the kind words. I would be happy to produce a score but unfortunately I don´t read music. However, I made a new recording with my DP hooked up with a computer and managed to create a midi file. If you like, I could I send it to you. If you can make something useful out of it, I am a happy camper

The story behind this piece is this. I was browsing Youtube and found what the composer called the saddest piano song EVER!!! On listening to it I didn't think it sounded all that sad so I wrote my Elegy. While I was writing it I mentioned to some others that I was writing the saddest piano song ever and they expressed concern for my mental health. What I didn't make a big deal of at the time was that I was also writing a piece to serve the opposite purpose, not necessarily the happiest piano siong ever but a piece to depict the light of God in piano music. That one's proven a bit tougher to do, but it's nearly done. It's also a lot harder to play.

Nikolas, if you would host the score I'd very much appreciate it. Let me know how to get it to you.

Edited by Steve Chandler (12/01/1203:24 PM)Edit Reason: add back story

Rune: Sure thing. Send it over. I'll check how it's made. If you used a clicked track (so if you pretty much followed the tempo) then it'll be dead easy to create the score. If you just recorded it the 'fast way' without any tempo, then things might be trickier, and I can't promise anything but I will give it a try.

About your work and the story behind it. It's quite interesting, since (like me perhaps) your work is a direct reaction to something you saw/heard/read. It's not a result of an autistic person who just composes for himself, but a conscious idea which is also fixed to psychological facts actually.

It's monothematic and the whole progress gives me the creeps. I'd be lying if I didn't think about your mental health for a second there (but I already knew about your other piece (from your post I mean) so it didn't occur to me for more than once.

And your piece works. (It's a midi recording, btw? Sounds like it, but I can't be 100% certain).

TO EVERYONE: If you wish to send me anything just use my email at nikolas *AT* musica-ferrum.com .

Some technical details: If it's a recording there are 3 (or 4, ok) options:* WAV/AIF. This is an uncompressed audio file. You can calculate that 1 minute of music is 10 MB of music and my email can get up to 20 MB of attachments, so...* MP3. The well known format. No problems there. It works great if you keep your bitrate at above 112/124 kbits. Finale, Sibelius and all sequencers that I know of can export directly to this format, so...* OGG. It's a brilliant format, actually, from Vorbis. It's MUCH better than mp3s in every account, and can be of smaller size AND better quality at the same time. Unfortunately as a free format it does NOT have the full support from various music players (for example Windows Media Player does NOT recognize OGG files).* Flac. LOSSLESS (so no information lost, as opposed to mp3 and ogg) this format is pretty much like a zip file, but for audio files specifically. It doesn't have any quality loss, thus is much preferred by various people, but playback wise (again) Windows Media Player and other playback software doesn't like it.

For a score you have basically 3 options (when you send it over):* A PDF file. Works for everyone, but no playback.* Finaly files.* Sibelius files.

I own both Finale and Sibelius and I can produce a fine PDF file from that.

That's about all I can think of, right now. I'm happy to see this thread coming alive, btw!

Score sent. Thank you for initiating this thread and providing a place to host files.

It does seem as if I accessed something pretty dark in my piece. You're right it's a midi recording as it's a pretty hard piece to play with big chords and jumps. I can't play it for more than 15 minutes without taking a break. In thinking about the emotion of sadness, it struck me that it tends to focus on one single idea as being tragic and overriding all other aspects of one's life regardless of the emotion attached to them. You could win the lottery but if you'd just lost the love of your life you might focus only on the loss. Do too much of that and you'll drive your life into the ground and that's what's disturbing about my piece, it's insistence on tragedy. I felt it necessary to start another piece that attempts to describe the other end of the emotional spectrum, just to maintain balance.

AS I mentioned before I liked both your piece and the lullaby. Your piece was very short and sweet and I really liked the way the harmony shifted. That was much more apparent when listening with the score on my screen (a vote for the utility of having the score available). I do wish it was longer.

There was also some very nice jazz style harmony in Rune's lullaby. At 1:13 it's not a long piece either. Good luck getting a baby to sleep in just over a minute. While it sounds complete as is, in a live performance I would expect the player to do a bit more than run through the song once and that would give the opportunity for extemporizing on the melody.

It's exactly that: It's extremely tragic. There's a descent to sadness and a very dark place and that's what makes it so successful in what it does. It isn't something superficially sad (think of emo :D) from the beginning. It drowns you in its sorrow.

And since we are in the composer's lounge, I'd like to offer some further thoughts about the score. It's highly readable as it stands and it IS clean and well thought out.

The main question that I have is that I tend to prefer slightly smaller scores. Yours must be 100%, while my score was 92% or so... I don't know which one is better, since I'm using some 23" screens (two of them) and looking at a score in digital form isn't the best way to understand its size.

Personally, I'd prefer to avoid using the 8vb sign with the octaves in the middle of the piece, because one may be confused if this applies to the next chord or not in the left hand. But that's just me and my ability to read through a lot of ledger lines... :-/

My piece has a very defined reason for being small. I promise! Next one will be much different!

First off, this new Forum effort of yours holds wonderful promise, as evidenced by the great contributions so far.

Regarding your piece specifically, if I may: I fully appreciate your stated intention to keep it simple and brief. Equally, I am certain you already know this: Your composition is JUST BEGGING for a repeat of the first 16 measures, with very little alteration. * Perhaps adding a close-harmony voice in the treble. * Perhaps a second voice that echos the first, one measure later. It is simply too compelling to end when it is just getting going!

Ed

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In music, everything one does correctly helps everything else.

Steve, I fully agree with what Nikolas said about your Elegy. I actually could not get it out of my head.In my mind, music to depict the light of God would be S:t Matthews Passion by J.S. Bach. Looking forward to listen to your piece

Nikolas, Midi file sent. I would be very grateful if you could create a PDF score out of it. Many thanks for your time

Got your email and the midi file and wrote back! I hope that everything will work out. I just need more time... So if I seem to be late, or something, don't assume that I've forgotten. Just that I'm trying to wrap my head around everything I need to do...

And I want to thank everyone so far for their contributions to this 'rivival the composers' lounge' thread kind of thing.

This is probably because you didn't "translate" the word "*AT*" to the proper sign. When posting in the Internet forums, there's 'spiders' crawling around, gathering emails, so it's better not to give away the address as is. So instead of *AT* just put the sign @ there (2 with the shift pressed).

If that's not it, I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Rune: No worries about your English. They're fine, plus I'm not English either, and it probably shows from time to time!

This is probably because you didn't "translate" the word "*AT*" to the proper sign. When posting in the Internet forums, there's 'spiders' crawling around, gathering emails, so it's better not to give away the address as is. So instead of *AT* just put the sign @ there (2 with the shift pressed).

If that's not it, I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Rune: No worries about your English. They're fine, plus I'm not English either, and it probably shows from time to time!

I am aware of the @ sign. Take another look at the email address that you posted in the message and see if it is correct, please.

This is probably because you didn't "translate" the word "*AT*" to the proper sign. When posting in the Internet forums, there's 'spiders' crawling around, gathering emails, so it's better not to give away the address as is. So instead of *AT* just put the sign @ there (2 with the shift pressed).

If that's not it, I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Rune: No worries about your English. They're fine, plus I'm not English either, and it probably shows from time to time!

I am aware of the @ sign. Take another look at the email address that you posted in the message and see if it is correct, please.

Thanks,

Larry,

It worked fine for me, remember there should be no spaces in an email address.

This is probably because you didn't "translate" the word "*AT*" to the proper sign. When posting in the Internet forums, there's 'spiders' crawling around, gathering emails, so it's better not to give away the address as is. So instead of *AT* just put the sign @ there (2 with the shift pressed).

If that's not it, I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Rune: No worries about your English. They're fine, plus I'm not English either, and it probably shows from time to time!

I am aware of the @ sign. Take another look at the email address that you posted in the message and see if it is correct, please.

Thanks,

Larry,

I've already received emails from two members here, so I don't think it's something I did wrong.

Whew !!I'm not used to recording. Just put this together after many takes and uploaded it a few moments ago. Transferred it from wav to mp3 using itunes. No editing.For now I've given it the title 'as yet...' as it doesn't have a title as yet. I've never been much of one for coming up with titles.

This piece goes back quite a ways in my past and is an improvisational composition, meaning parts of it are improvised and always played differently in each performance. Well, the hour is getting late here on Sunday night ... wanted to submit something before the end of the weekend.Thanks again Nikolas for initiating this thread and offering assistance. And thanks to all those contributing and listening/viewing. I shall respond more later to individual pieces.

It does have this improvisatory feeling, as you say. And it's fine for me, since improvisation is a part of composition either way. And 2:40 into the work it goes to much different rhythmic territories! YAY!

I've listened to great interest, and perhaps it's because I'm too involved in this, but it just feels that I'm learning more about each and everyone of you.

On something else that I didn't have a chance to reply to.

Originally Posted By: LoPresti

Regarding your piece specifically, if I may: I fully appreciate your stated intention to keep it simple and brief. Equally, I am certain you already know this: Your composition is JUST BEGGING for a repeat of the first 16 measures, with very little alteration. * Perhaps adding a close-harmony voice in the treble. * Perhaps a second voice that echos the first, one measure later. It is simply too compelling to end when it is just getting going

Ed,

I totally see what you mean.

Thing is that because of personal reasons, I feel a very strong urge to 'let down' others. I can't do it in real life (I can't abandon my kids of course), so I'm doing it in music. I've written many more of these miniatures recently and all share this idea of 'let down'.

Of course I'm a little against the religious persistence of following the score exactly, in which case I'd be fine with anyone tempering with a repeat, or a loop of this short work or anything. I'd hate for any pianist to feel 'locked' to something that's mean to temper with!

Wow. I've listened to all the recordings and checked out the sheet music for anything available. Very very nice job on everyone's part. I was going to upload a draft of a piece I wrote based on an 8-note recurring theme, but it doesn't hold a candle to what I've already heard. So, instead, I offer this: if anyone would like me to tackle a piano piece they've composed but for whatever reasons, cannot play themselves, please let me know. I'd be happy to have a look.

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Every day we are afforded a new chance. The problem with life is not that you run out of chances. In the end, what you run out of are days.

Wow. I've listened to all the recordings and checked out the sheet music for anything available. Very very nice job on everyone's part. I was going to upload a draft of a piece I wrote based on an 8-note recurring theme, but it doesn't hold a candle to what I've already heard. So, instead, I offer this: if anyone would like me to tackle a piano piece they've composed but for whatever reasons, cannot play themselves, please let me know. I'd be happy to have a look.

Glad you liked them. I also appreciate your generous offer. PM me your email (I know I had it once upon a time) and I'll send a pdf of eleven pieces and you can take your pick. I can hack my way through all of them, but eventually the question becomes do I want to invest years learning pieces (and never playing the harder ones particularly well) or do I write more. That collection does not include the Elegy.

Also, I wouldn't be so quick to hold off posting your own work. We may be able to help you find ways to improve it or we might like it just the way it is. It would be a shame if the enthusiasm of a few intimidated others from contributing. If the only purpose served by you posting your piece was to inspire others that it's okay to post something that's a work in progress you would have done a good thing.

Steve- excellent suggestion. I may do just that. If my work can do anything, it is to inspire others that no matter how bad they think it is, it could always be worse!

I do have one particular piece for which I like the theme, and every variation is "okay", but I have no modulation for it, and nowhere to go with it. (This is one area, I think, where I have as little talent/knowledge as there could possibly be. I can tell when something's working and when it's not just from my general musical background, but I have no idea how to fix something that isn't working.)

I'll send you the PM now. Thanks.

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Every day we are afforded a new chance. The problem with life is not that you run out of chances. In the end, what you run out of are days.

Derulux: Your offer is excellent and I'd also like to thank you. From behalf of all the composers, I think that this is a valuable offer, and I might take it up as well (for the same reasons as Steve: I don't have the time to learn/study everything).

On offering your work: I think you should do it. I've already had a similar discussion in another thread about pretty much the same thing. I don't think that one should be limited in not posting their works, or recordings because others seem/are/whatever better...

I mean we all are different and the idea of 'right' or 'wrong' isn't applicable in composition really!

I do have one particular piece for which I like the theme, and every variation is "okay", but I have no modulation for it, and nowhere to go with it. (This is one area, I think, where I have as little talent/knowledge as there could possibly be. I can tell when something's working and when it's not just from my general musical background, but I have no idea how to fix something that isn't working.)

To fix something that isn't working I have two methods, the first is trial and error, when that doesn't work I just mull it over for a few days and usually a good idea comes.

The problem with variations is modulation aren't typically part of the scheme. So feel free to put them in either as transitions between variations of within a variation. My advice with composing variations is compose at least 5 and either throw them away or edit them to bare minimum. That'll get rid of the obvious ideas (walking bass, light ornamentation, super slow, fugues etc.). Now you have to actually be creative and that's when things get interesting and/or exciting. You'll know you've mastered the process when you find yourself trying to figure out what order will give your piece the most dramatic impact. In my Spring Hop I kept the light ornamentation and fugue variations (because I liked them) but dumped the super slow and didn't bother writing a walking bass one.

In any case the music is in your inbox now, so you can look it over and try some on. Hope you like it.

I found your improvisational composition very pleasant to listen to. Thanks for sharing!I am curious about the instrument you are performing on. Is it a perfectly tuned grand piano or possibly an digital piano? Your recording sounds really good

Nice thread, I've started listening at the top and I've enjoyed what I've heard. I haven't posted in a long time (though I still lurk). I'm not very good and don't compose often but this is a party so I'll post something.

This is a short looping number I wrote for someone who wanted to evoke a dance of draculas for a school play. I had created it in a demo version of Noteworthy Composer and never got around to redoing it in something else so that watermark is all over it.

I found your improvisational composition very pleasant to listen to. Thanks for sharing!I am curious about the instrument you are performing on. Is it a perfectly tuned grand piano or possibly an digital piano? Your recording sounds really good

Rune

If that's a digital then perhaps I should sell my Estonia.

Dara, I agree with Rune, that's a very enjoyable piece. Structurally, it wanders a bit, but everyplace it goes seems nice.